<\/p>\n
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday discussed the ongoing hostilities in the Middle East in phone calls with leaders from Malaysia, Azerbaijan, Egypt, Bangladesh and Uzbekistan, with all calling for de-escalation in the region.<\/p>\n
The ongoing war, launched<\/a> by the US and Israel against Iran, has expanded across the Middle East with Tehran targeting US bases and assets in other countries in the region, including Azerbaijan, and Tel Aviv targeting Hezbollah in Lebanon.<\/p>\n The Prime Minister\u2019s Office (PMO) said on the social media platform X that the premier held a telephone conversation with Azerbaijan\u2019s President Ilham Aliyev \u201cto exchange greetings on the auspicious occasion of Eidul Fitr\u201d.<\/p>\n \u201cThe two leaders also discussed the ongoing hostilities in Iran and the Gulf region,\u201d the statement said.<\/p>\n \u201cThe prime minister reiterated [his] strong condemnation of the attacks against Azerbaijan and expressed full solidarity and support with the brotherly people of Azerbaijan in these challenging times.\u201d<\/p>\n It added that both leaders called for an immediate de-escalation, urging \u201cdialogue and diplomacy\u201d to resolve outstanding issues.<\/p>\n Additionally, PM Shehbaz conveyed \u201cheartfelt\u201d Eidul Fitr wishes to Aliyev and the people of Azerbaijan. The sentiments were \u201cwarmly reciprocated\u201d by Aliyev for the people of Pakistan, according to the statement.<\/p>\n During the call, they also expressed satisfaction with the positive trajectory of Pakistan-Azerbaijan relations and reaffirmed their mutual resolve and commitment to further strengthen bilateral ties, the PMO added.<\/p>\n In a separate post on X, PM Shehbaz reiterated the same.<\/p>\n \u201cI reiterated my strong condemnation of the attacks against Azerbaijan and reaffirmed Pakistan\u2019s unwavering solidarity with our Azerbaijani brothers and sisters,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n \u201cWe agreed on the urgent need for de-escalation and resolution of tensions through dialogue and diplomacy, while reaffirming our shared commitment to further strengthening Pakistan-Azerbaijan brotherly ties,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n Two weeks ago, PM Shehbaz had also taken to X to express \u201cserious concern\u201d over the attacks on Azerbaijan.<\/p>\n Meanwhile, the premier also held a phone call with Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.<\/p>\n \u201cWhile praying for peace and harmony of the Ummah, the two leaders called for de-escalation of the ongoing hostilities in Iran and the Gulf region and agreed to continue to work together for advancing peace efforts in this regard,\u201d a statement by the PMO said.<\/p>\n \u201cBoth leaders expressed satisfaction at the positive momentum in bilateral ties and reaffirmed their shared resolve to further strengthen Pakistan-Malaysia fraternal relations,\u201d it added.<\/p>\n PM Shehbaz also felicitated the Malaysian premier, government and people on the occasion of Eidul Fitr.<\/p>\n In a post on X, the premier reiterated that the two discussed the \u201cevolving situation in Iran and the Gulf region, and agreed on the urgent need for de-escalation and continued joint efforts to promote peace through dialogue and diplomacy\u201d.<\/p>\n \u201cWe also expressed satisfaction at the positive momentum in Pakistan-Malaysia relations and reaffirmed our shared commitment to further strengthening our fraternal ties,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n The premier had previously briefed<\/a> Ibrahim on \u201crecent developments regarding Afghanistan\u201d in a call on March 5. The pair had also expressed \u201cdeep concern\u201d at the situation in the Middle East.<\/p>\n In their phone call, PM Shehbaz and Uzbekistan President Shavkat Mirziyoyev \u201cexchanged views on the ongoing hostilities in Iran and the Gulf region and stressed upon the need for an immediate de-escalation and use of dialogue and diplomacy for resolution of all disputes\u201d, said the PMO.<\/p>\n The premier exchanged Eid greetings with Mirziyoyev in their \u201cmost cordial conversation\u201d, the statement said.<\/p>\n \u201cThe prime minister conveyed his heartfelt wishes to the president, and the brotherly people of Uzbekistan on this blessed occasion of Eid, which the Uzbek leader warmly reciprocated,\u201d it read.<\/p>\n The two leaders \u201cexpressed satisfaction on the highly successful outcomes of the Uzbek president\u2019s visit to Pakistan<\/a> last month\u201d, the PMO stated.<\/p>\n PM Shehbaz noted that \u201cregular follow-up on the key decisions taken by both leaders would ensure further strengthening of the bilateral ties\u201d.<\/p>\n In a post on X about the phone call, the premier said, \u201cI expressed satisfaction at the highly successful outcomes of his recent visit to Pakistan and underscored the importance of continued follow-up to further strengthen our bilateral partnership.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWe also discussed the situation in Iran and the Gulf region, and agreed on the urgent need for de-escalation and resolution of all disputes through dialogue and diplomacy,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n About the PM\u2019s phone call with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, the PMO said in a statement on X that the premier conveyed Eidul Fitr greetings to el-Sisi and the \u201cbrotherly people of Egypt\u201d.<\/p>\n \u201cPresident el-Sisi reciprocated the sentiments for the prime minister and the people of Pakistan,\u201d the statement added.<\/p>\n It further stated that PM Shehbaz reaffirmed the strong and brotherly relations between Pakistan and Egypt and reiterated Pakistan\u2019s commitment to further strengthening bilateral cooperation with Egypt across all areas of mutual interest.<\/p>\n He also appreciated Egypt\u2019s constructive diplomatic role in regional and international issues, particularly its significant contribution to peace efforts in the Middle East, the statement said.<\/p>\n \u201cBoth leaders exchanged views on the evolving situation in Iran and the Gulf region, and, while expressing their serious concerns over the ongoing hostilities, they agreed to continue diplomatic efforts for de-escalation and for the restoration of peace and normalcy,\u201d it read.<\/p>\n On his own account, PM Shehbaz posted that he had held a phone call with Bangladesh Prime Minister Tarique Rehman \u201cto convey warm Eidul Fitr greetings to him and the people of Bangladesh\u201d.<\/p>\n \u201cWe fondly recalled the historic, fraternal and familial bonds between our two countries. I reaffirmed Pakistan\u2019s commitment to further strengthening our bilateral cooperation across all spheres,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n The PM added: \u201cWe also exchanged views on regional developments and the situation in the Middle East, and agreed on the importance of dialogue and diplomacy for peace and stability.\u201d<\/p>\n A day earlier, the premier had also held phone calls with Turkiye President President Recep Tayyip Erdogan<\/a> and Jordan\u2019s King Abdullah II<\/a>, with the situation in the Middle East coming under discussion.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday discussed the ongoing hostilities in the Middle East in phone calls with leaders from Malaysia, Azerbaijan, Egypt, Bangladesh and Uzbekistan, with all calling for de-escalation in the region. The ongoing war, launched by the US and Israel against Iran, has expanded across the Middle East with Tehran targeting US […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":106282,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/i.dawn.com\/large\/2026\/03\/2019252231f3842.webp","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[13],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-106281","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-top-news"],"acf":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/pakistaninewspaperlist.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/106281","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/pakistaninewspaperlist.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/pakistaninewspaperlist.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pakistaninewspaperlist.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pakistaninewspaperlist.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=106281"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/pakistaninewspaperlist.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/106281\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pakistaninewspaperlist.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/106282"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/pakistaninewspaperlist.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=106281"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pakistaninewspaperlist.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=106281"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pakistaninewspaperlist.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=106281"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}Phone call with Malaysian PM<\/h2>\n
Call with Uzbek president<\/h2>\n
Phone call with Egyptian president<\/h2>\n
Phone call with Bangladesh PM<\/h2>\n